My Current Skincare Routine (+My Favorite Products)

Last week I shared my struggle with acne and how adopting a paleo lifestyle was the turning point in healing my skin. If you haven't read that post, get caught up HERE! Today I'm sharing what I do, topically, to keep my skin healthy and glowing.

All About Oil Cleansing

After I completed my first round of Whole30, and saw improvements, I wanted to try some new products to see if I could take my skin's health to the next level. I hadn't made many changes to my skincare routine when I changed my diet, and was mainly using soap based cleansers on my skin. I decided to revisit the Oil Cleansing Method. The oil cleansing method works based on the scientific principle that oil dissolves oil. By using a properly balanced oil to cleanse your face, you can remove makeup, dirt, and impurities without stripping your skin of healthy essential oils. The end result is clean, healthy, and balanced skin.

Have you ever washed your face with a cleanser and been left with dry skin or skin that feels a little "too" clean? There's this misconception that in order to get rid of acne and have clear skin, we have to get our skin squeaky clean by removing any oil. The opposite is actually true! Our skin likes balance and it works hard to get to a place of equilibrium. Washing your face with harsh, stripping cleansers, that remove all of your skin's healthy oils will actually cause your skin to produce even more natural oil to over compensate for the dryness. You're then left with oily, more acne-prone skin.

I had previously tried oil cleansing with coconut oil a few years prior and it made me breakout in small bumps. I was a bit hesitant to try it out again, but I really wanted to give it another shot. I did some research and came across a company called, Fatco on Instagram. They hand make and sell a line of all natural oil cleansing products. After reading numerous reviews and seeing tons of 'before & after' photos I decided to purchase a cleansing oil, toner, and moisturizer. As soon as I began using the products, I noticed a difference in my skin. It was softer, clean but not dry, and felt healthy. I also noticed an improvement in my skin's overall tone and texture. I had finally found something that really worked.

My Skin Health Today

Now, after a few years of eating a well balanced diet and oil cleansing, my skin is the healthiest it's been in a while. I also know that hydration, sleep, and stress can affect skin, so I make sure to drink plenty of water, get 8 hours of sleep each night, and try to manage stress. My skin is far from perfect. I have hyper-pigmentation and acne scars and I still struggle with the occasional breakout. But, there's no arguing that my skin has improved dramatically and I attribute that improvement to both dietary changes and all-natural topical products.

Recently, I've also been working with a Registered Dietitian and Holistic Health Expert on hormonal balance and supplementation. I knew my hormones were much more balanced than they were when I first started this journey, but I still wanted to work with someone to resolve any lingering imbalances. Since working with an RD, I've seen a major improvement in the health of my skin and my health in general. She's been able to pinpoint the root cause of symptoms and recommend supplements to address those issues. If you have questions about working with an RD, feel free to ask!

If you're dealing with acne I want you to be encouraged. Remember, that you are not your skin. Blemishes, acne, scars, or dark marks don't make you any less attractive, beautiful, or worthy of love and respect. Give yourself grace and take the time to dive deep into what's really going on behind the scenes. There are so many different factors that influence your skin's health, and if you feel like you've been doing everything right but getting nowhere, it may be time to try a new approach. Resolving skin issues can be a long process and it's often far from glamorous. There have been plenty of moments where I've taken one step forward only to feel like I was taking two steps back. It's been a journey that's taken lots of patience and consistency, but it has been so worth it.

My Skincare Routine

Since I began consistently oil cleansing, I've explored different products and brands, but using oil remains my favorite way to cleanse my skin. You can create your own blend of oils to cleanse with, based on your skin type, but I've found that it's easier to purchase high-quality products that have already been formulated for me. There are some great products on the market that are made with high-quality ingredients and take away all of the guess work. My current favorites are Primally Pure and Fatco. If you're interested in switching things up and trying the Oil Cleansing Method, I've done the work for you and linked to my favorite products, and how I use them, in my skincare routine!

Step 2: Then, I wet a clean washcloth with warm water, and place the wash cloth over my entire face and leave it until it cools.

Step 3: Next, I use the wash cloth to gently wipe away any impurities and excess oil from my skin.

Step 4: I like to follow up with a refreshing toner to make sure I've removed all of the excess oil and to help balance my skin's pH levels. This Everything Spray is my favorite. Sometimes I add a small drop of tea tree oil if I'm dealing with a breakout.

Step 5: Finally, I moisturize. Don't be afraid of this step, I usually use a little more moisturizer than you might think is necessary, but it all soaks in and I wake up to glowing skin. Currently, I'm loving a combination of rosehip seed oil, tamanu oil, jojoba oil and Beauty Cream. The Myrrachelous Face Cream from Fatco or Fancy Face Serum from Primally Pure are other great options.

In the Morning

Option #1: Since I've oil cleansed the night before, I usually don't need to do much to my skin in the morning. I refresh my skin with warm water and a wash cloth, spritz a few pumps of rose water, and moisturize with a small amount of a rose hip seed or jojoba oil.

Option #2: If, for some reason I didn't get a chance to wash my face the night before, I like to use my Beauty Counter Charcoal Bar to cleanse in the morning. I'll follow up with a toner and then moisturize.

Extras

Exfoliation: I like to exfoliate with a simple homemade coconut oil and sugar scrub (2 tablespoons of sugar and 1 tablespoon oil) every few days. I've read mixed things about exfoliation, but I've personally found that my skin does a lot better when I use a gentle exfoliater on a regular basis. If you have very sensitive skin, I would try this out on a small patch of skin before exfoliating your entire face.

Clay Masks: I also try to do a bentonite clay and apple cider vinegar clay mask at least once a week. Bentonite clay can help draw toxins out of the skin, unclog pours, and remove dead skin cells. It's also been said to help reduce the appearance of acne scars. In addition to apple cider vinegar, I add lavender essential oil, rosewater, tea tree oil, and a few drops of a moisturizing oil to the clay as well. If you have sensitive skin, the apple cider vinegar may be too much for you. Rosewater, aloe vera juice, or just plain water are great options if you have more sensitive skin.

Moisturizers

You might notice that some of the products on this list are a bit more costly than traditional drug store items. Believe me, I understand being hesitant to take the leap and buy a bunch of new, expensive products. If you're concerned, here are a few tips that really helped me:

Tip #1: Don't buy everything all at once. Slowly start the process by only purchasing the one thing you use the most frequently. For me, that would look like purchasing a cleansing oil and just using jojoba oil (which is pretty inexpensive) to moisturize.

Tip #2: When you run out of something, replace it with a new high-quality product. Before you know it, you'll have a routine with entirely new products.

Tip #3: Remember that this stuff lasts a lot longer than what you may be currently using. A little goes a long way with high-quality skincare and I usually only buy new products every 4 months, maybe longer.

Tip #4: Look at this as investment in your skin and overall health. It's worth it to spend a few extra dollars on good quality skincare and see results, instead of constantly wasting money on cheaper drug store brands that ultimately don't work.

There are affiliate links in this post. Please know that all of the items I mentioned are ones that I personally use and enjoy. I’ll never post about a product unless I use it personally and love it. If you click on any link I post, at no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you make a purchase. Your clicks help keep this blog running and enable me to bring you more fun content! You are literally the best.